The President's Activities

JICA President Shinichi Kitaoka has paid a visit to Vietnam Sept. 5-10, during which he held talks with National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, attended the opening ceremony of Vietnam-Japan University (VJU), and visited several Japanese ODA project sites.

Among other high-ranking officials, Mr. Kitaoka also met with Finance Minister Dinh Tien Dung, Transport Minister Truong Quang Nghia and Chairman of Hanoi People's Committee Nguyen Duc Chung.

JICA President Shinichi Kitaoka gives an opening address.
JICA President Shinichi Kitaoka, left, holds talks with Vietnamese Finance Minister Dinh Tien Dung, right.

On Sept. 8, Mr. Kitaoka gave a keynote address at VJU’s Commemorative Symposium and attended the university's opening ceremony on Sept. 9. At the opening ceremony, Mr. Phung Xuan Nha, Minister of Education and Training, gave a congratulatory address as the representative of the Vietnamese side.

Before these events, Mr. Kitaoka visited Da Nang on Sept. 6 and met with Chairman of the Da Nang People's Committee Huynh Duc Tho. During the meeting, Mr. Tho thanked Mr. Kitaoka for JICA's cooperation so far and expressed his hopes for further future cooperation in the economic development of Da Nang city. Mr. Kitaoka also visited the sites of several ODA projects in Da Nang, including the Hai Van Tunnel and Da Nang Port.
Da Nang city is a starting point on the eastern edge of the East-West Economic Corridor of the Indochina peninsula, whose role, according to Mr. Kitaoka, is growing in importance.

On Sept. 8, Mr. Kitaoka held talks with Mr. Dung, and he held talks with Ms. Ngân on Sept. 9. Both of these dignitaries thanked Mr. Kitaoka for JICA's past cooperation.

On Sept. 10, Mr. Kitaoka visited Lach Huyen Port, which is currently under construction using Japanese ODA in the suburbs of Haiphong. He then visited the sites of Japanese cooperation projects contributing to the continual development of the capital area including Terminal 2 of Noi Bai International Airport, the Nhat Tan Bridge (or Vietnam-Japan Friendship Bridge) and Hanoi City Ring Road 3.

Through these visits, Mr. Kitaoka reaffirmed that Japan's long years of cooperation and comprehensive assistance have made a contribution to the country’s development.